Toronto Maple Leafs: Easing The Red Wings Pain

With the rumors surrounding the impending departure of Pavel Datsyuk from the Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to swoop in and ease their pain.

Datsyuk carries a $7.5M cap hit with or without being a part of the on-ice product next season for the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs have the ability to carry that hit next year – for a price.

Let’s be honest, the Detroit Red Wings do not want Datsyuk and his cap hit on their books if he’s going to be on the other side of the world. That’s a fact, whether you want the Toronto Maple Leafs to take advantage or not. The reality of the situation is that it sucks for the Red Wings. It sucks a lot.

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Without giving up something of value, the Red Wings aren’t going to be able to shovel Datsyuk’s contract off on anyone, not even a budget basement team. What the Red Wings are looking for is a replacement center – not a player to replace Datsyuk himself – that is serviceable, competent and cheaper than #13 not being on the team.

That player is, Tyler Bozak.

Hear me out before lighting me on fire.

The Wings need two things:

An actual player.
Maneuverability with respect to the salary cap.

Picking up Tyler Bozak, who has proven he’s not as useless as previously thought, fills those needs. Picking up Bozak gives the Red Wings what they need.

Now, Bozak is certainly no Datsyuk, as this image from OwnThePuck will show:

Clearly Datsyuk is better, that’s not up for debate, but Bozak does have his bright spots over the sample used for the image.

I’m not saying he is Datsyuk, but he is a serviceable second line center that will give the Wings a body and $3.3M in cap space to work with for the rest of their roster if Datsyuk does, in fact, bolt for the KHL or retirement completely.

A functional player and cap space. That, ladies and gentlemen, is worth something. It has value, and don’t think for a second that the Detroit Red Wings aren’t sweating about this situation, because they are.

This storied franchise has nailed the post-season for 25 straight years. Do you honestly think they want that to end? Of course they don’t. Dealing Datsyuk’s cap hit is part of the formula to make 25 turn into 26.

Bozak is no savior, but he’s a start for a team with a $7.5M ghost getting read to suit up. Here’s my proposal:

Here’s my reasoning for the years of the picks. I want the Red Wings 2017 pick because that’s the year of the draft that the Wings won’t have Datsyuk playing for. If they make the playoffs, great. If they don’t, even better. This pick is unprotected by the way. Cost of doing business.

The 2018 third rounder heading back from the Toronto Maple Leafs is likely the lowest of the next three drafts, two of which will be forfeited to the Red Wings, coincidentally, and the Devils because of foolish compensation rules. Aside from it being the only third leftover in the next three years that the Leafs own themselves, it’s likely not going to matter with the current prospect pool and who will be added very shortly.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will need Bozak’s $4.2M gone during the final year of his contract, because we all know Lupul isn’t tradeable. Players will need re-signing and, perhaps, the Toronto Maple Leafs want to dabble in free agency or trades. It’s time to turn Bozak into something useful for the rebuild.

Next: Draft Options Outside The Top 3

Yes, the Wings give up a first, but is it really that bad? They’ve drafted so well in the past that they can afford to give up a first rounder if it means removing themselves of the grips of $7.5M in dead money that they can’t bury. Freedom has a price, and it isn’t cheap.

What do you think, Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Interested or not? Insane or slightly realistic?

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